Nevertheless, even before the Tasmania-Western Australia Sheffield Shield match that began on Sunday, Doolan had outscored him from three fewer innings. His dismissal on Sunday for 42 took his season record to 570 runs at an average of 81.43.

The elegant right-hander's most telling contribution came for Australia A earlier this month, making 161 against South African strike bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. A week earlier he had shared in two century partnerships with Ricky Ponting for Tasmania against a formidable Victorian bowling attack, making 95 and 60 not out.

Despite the Australia A selection confirming Doolan as a Test contender - and his big century strengthening that notion - the 26-year-old downplayed the implications of his increased recognition.

''It's been nice to have the recognition I've had and for people to say some really nice things about me, but in Tassie the media hype around the Test team and whatnot isn't as great as what it probably is in the bigger states,'' he said.

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''It's just allowed me to cruise back into state cricket and do what I do. Hopefully the rest will take care of itself. I haven't actually played any cricket for Australia and it's only hype at the moment.

''If I fail I fail, whereas if I succeed and reach the dream the hype will still be great. Compare that to someone who's already in the system, someone like Phil Hughes maybe, trying to get back to that level, I think has more pressure than someone who's trying to make it [for the first time]. Not having made it probably eases the pressure.''

Despite comfortably ranking among the most in-form domestic batsmen, Doolan was, until late last week, in the unusual position of not having a Big Bash League contract, until that was remedied by Melbourne Renegades.

''A lot of guys are seen as more destructive in Twenty20 … I still think a good cricketer's a good cricketer, no matter what format you put them in,'' was his explanation for his lack of a Twenty20 suitor.

''It was a little bit baffling, but on the other side of the coin I could understand why as well.''

That understanding related partly to his subdued first-class scoring rate, 56 per 100 balls this season and a career rare of 47, but more so to his lack of limited-overs experience for Tasmania.

Doolan has played 35 shield matches for the Tigers since January 2009 but only 10 limited-overs matches, of which three were in Twenty20, and all of those came three seasons ago.

''I've probably fallen into the trap in the past few [limited-overs] games of trying to be a player I'm not, trying to score really heavily and really quickly,'' he said.

Doolan is likely to start the season outside the Renegades' full-strength batting line-up but could become a crucial cog if captain Aaron Finch receives a national call-up.

He will also serve as deputy to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, having been a gloveman as a junior and filled in for Tasmania too.